Department for Transport

Railways

Lord Lucas: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the death of a man hit by a train at Horley Station on 22 October, what steps they are taking to ensure that passengers delayed by such incidents are provided with (1) information as the nature of the incident, (2) regular updates as to what is being done about the incident, and (3) expectations regarding resumption of services.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This is an operational matter for Network Rail and Train Operating Companies, who are responsible for ensuring effective messaging to passengers about disruption to services and the impact on their journeys, and for working with the emergency services as necessary to ensure services can resume at the earliest opportunity. The industry appreciates that where there has been an incident such as a fatality, messaging needs to be handled sensitively to avoid causing undue distress to passengers.

Heathrow Airport

Lord Beecham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which elements of the future surface transport needs required for the proposed third runway at Heathrow would be state funded or guaranteed.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Heathrow Airport Limited, will meet the cost of the surface access improvements necessary to allow expansion of the airport, including re-alignment of the M25, the A4 and A3044, as well as airport and terminal access roads. Where projects have wider beneficiaries, such as Western Rail Access and Southern Rail Access, the Government will expect Heathrow to fund an appropriate proportion of the costs based on the direct benefits for the airport.

Railways: Compensation

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the amount of compensation due to passengers for delays and cancellations which was unclaimed from each train operating company during the last year for which figures are available.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of unclaimed compensation. The Office of Rail and Road considered this issue in its response to the Which? super-complaint on passenger compensation and has committed to working with the industry to agree a set of indicators that will show how the take-up of compensation is changing over time. We are also working with the industry as it develops improvements to make the compensation process as easy for passengers as possible, including further automation. A number of train companies have already introduced fully automated compensation and other are planning to do so.

Railways: Compensation

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have made to, or discussed with, train operating companies to simplify procedures for passengers to claim compensation for delays and cancellations.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) is leading the industry’s response to the Office of Rail and Road’s recommendations following the Which? super-complaint, and we are discussing this with them as they lead efforts to raise standards. Actions already taken by the RDG include: the launch of a coordinated rail industry communications campaign to raise customer awareness of their right to and how to claim compensation; and an update to the National Rail Enquiries website to direct customers from the front page to full details about compensation and links to claim forms and specific information for every train company The Department for Transport requires bidders for new franchises to put forward proposals to make the compensation process swift and simple.

Railways: Compensation

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect each train operating company to implement passenger compensation for delays of 15 minutes or more.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 13 October 2016 the Secretary of State for Transport announced an improved compensation scheme for passengers if their train is more than 15 minutes late. We will implement the policy in the Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) franchise, which includes Southern, within months. Following its introduction on GTR services, ‘Delay Repay 15’ will then be rolled out across the network starting with the new South Western, West Midlands and South Eastern franchises. All franchise competitions let by the Department for Transport (DfT) will include requirements to introduce this policy and the DfT is exploring opportunities to roll this out for all DfT franchises during this Parliament.

Heathrow Airport

Lord Hunt of Chesterton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the extra road traffic and motor vehicle pollution likely to be generated near the expanded Heathrow airport, and whether they intend to widen the M25 in order to accommodate the extra traffic near Heathrow.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Airports Commission published, alongside its final report in July 2015, analysis of the traffic and environmental impacts from each of the three short-listed proposals for airport expansion in the South East. In addition, alongside the preference for a new northwest runway at Heathrow Airport announced on 25 October 2016, the Department for Transport published two reports - Air quality re-analysis: impact of new pollution climate mapping projections and national air quality plan and Further review and sensitivities report: airport capacity in the south-east which provide further analysis in relation to the assessment of air quality impacts and economic impacts of the proposals. Both documents contain some assessment of future road traffic and its impact. The analysis was published on the Department’s website and copies of the reports are available from the libraries of both Houses. The Heathrow northwest runway scheme will be expected to implement an extensive package of air quality mitigation measures. The precise details of the package will be determined through the planning process, according to the framework set out in a draft Airports National Policy Statement (NPS), which will be subject to public consultation.   Additionally, the airport promoter has committed to specific targets for increasing levels of public transport use by airport passengers and employees and has pledged to there being no increase in road traffic due to airport expansion. As part of the Department for Transport’s road investment planning process the future investment needs for the M25 between junctions 10 to 16 are being considered as part of the M25 South West Quadrant Strategic Study, which will take into account the Government’s preference for airport expansion at Heathrow Airport.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Groceries Code Adjudicator

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to extend the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Before we consider an extension of the Groceries Code Adjudicator’s (GCA) remit, we need to be absolutely clear on where any problems exist in the supply chain – and that an extended remit is the right response to those problems. Therefore, it is important that we hear views from all parties in the UK’s grocery supply chain. In order to gather these views we recently launched a Call for Evidence seeking views on the remit of the GCA. The Call for Evidence launched on the 17 October and closes on the 10 January.

Kids Company

Baroness Barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to receive a report of the Official Receiver's winding up of Kids Company.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Official Receiver sent a report regarding the winding up of Keeping Kids Company to creditors, including Cabinet Office and HMRC, on 1 October 2015. The Official Receiver’s enquiries into the affairs of Keeping Kids Company are continuing, and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on an ongoing investigation.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister intends to raise the issue of Kashmir with the government of India during her forthcoming visit to India.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) will discuss a variety of topics with Prime Minister Modi on her first overseas bilateral visit. The UK has a very close relationship with India through which we discuss a wide range of issues.

Northern Ireland Office

Police Service of Northern Ireland

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are satisfied that the current numerical strength of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is adequate to meet current demands.

Lord Dunlop: Staffing levels in the Police Service of Northern Ireland are a matter for the Chief Constable and PSNI’s budget is provided by the Department of Justice. However, we will always give our fullest possible backing to the men and women of the PSNI who do such a superb job. That is partly why this Government has provided specific Additional Security Funding totalling £230million in the last parliament and committed a further £160m in the current parliament.

Department for International Development

Iraq: Islamic State

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to protect civilians in Mosul; how many additional refugees from Mosul they anticipate will need to be cared for; and what planning is being done to stabilise Mosul and support civilians following the current offensive.

Lord Bates: According to the UN, up to 1.5 million people could be impacted by military operations to retake Mosul from Daesh, with up to 1 million people who may try to leave the city; of these, 700,000 might need shelter. The UK is supporting the Iraqi-led humanitarian response to ensure that civilians affected by Mosul military operations are provided with life-saving assistance, including protection support.The UK has been an early and significant donor to the UN’s Mosul Flash Appeal, and we have encouraged others to follow our lead. This year, the UK has announced £90 million of humanitarian assistance for Iraq, with a significant element supporting partners preparing and responding to Mosul. This takes the UK’s total support to £169.5 million since summer 2014. In partnership with the UN, donors and others, we will continue to monitor the situation closely. The UK continues to advocate strongly that civilians are protected and that International Humanitarian Law is upheld.We are supporting the Government of Iraq in its efforts to stabilise areas which have been liberated from Daesh by providing the governance, services and security necessary to enable the safe return of Iraqis to these areas. As part of the Global Coalition, the UK is assisting Iraqi-led efforts to stabilise Mosul, with delivery through the UN. We have committed £15 million to the UN’s stabilisation programming, through the UN Development Programme and UN Mine Action Service.

Gaza: Family Planning

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision is being made in aid programmes to Gaza for the provision of family planning supplies; and what is their availability there.

Lord Bates: The UK is a long-term supporter of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), providing over £60 million in 2015/16 in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. In Gaza, UNRWA delivers a full family planning programme, with a range of family planning supplies. UNRWA maintains stocks of family planning supplies in all UNRWA health centres, and all registered refugee women in Gaza have access to these health services. Family planning services, including counselling and the provision of modern contraceptives, are available at all times to women accessing UNRWA health centres.

Commonwealth: Overseas Aid

Lord Bowness: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much bilateral aid the UK has provided to individual Commonwealth countries in each of the last two years.

Lord Bates: In 2014 the UK spent £1,998 million of bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Commonwealth countries and £2,101 million in 2013.The attached table provides a breakdown by individual Commonwealth country in 2013 and 2014.



PQ HL2619 Attachment
(Excel SpreadSheet, 12.79 KB)

Middle East: Humanitarian Aid

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they are planning to make to the statement by the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs on 19 October on the Palestinian Occupied Territories and Iraq; and whether they intend to specify the headings to which they are responding.

Lord Bates: The UK shares the concerns raised by the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs to the Security Council on 19 October. As mentioned in the UK statement to the Security Council on 19 October, the government agree that efforts now need to focus on completing house rebuilding, reviving the productive sectors, stimulating exports, and creating jobs across the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The UK also continues to press for a sustainable political solution which will address Israel’s legitimate security concerns whilst opening up movement and access. The UK government are equally concerned at the spike in demolitions in the West Bank, and urge Israel to halt the systematic policy of demolition of Palestinian structures. The UK is a long-term supporter of Palestinian development through a range of programmes including private sector development, the delivery of basic services and support for over 5 million Palestinian refugees in the region.On Mosul, the UK shares the UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs’ concerns for the protection of civilians, and has echoed his calls for all parties to uphold international humanitarian and human rights law. The UK has been an early and significant donor to the UN’s Mosul Flash Appeal, and we are working to ensure others follow our lead. In 2016, the UK has announced £90 million of humanitarian assistance for Iraq, with a substantial element supporting partners preparing and responding to Mosul. This takes the UK’s total humanitarian commitment in Iraq since the summer of 2014 to £169.5 million.

Iraq: Armed Conflict

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution they are planning to make for shelter and emergency assistance for people in need as the offensive in Mosul develops, in particular for the elderly, the disabled and pregnant women.

Lord Bates: The UK is concerned for all of those affected, including the most vulnerable, by Iraqi-led military operations to retake Mosul from Daesh. The UK has been an early and significant donor to the UN’s Mosul Flash Appeal, and is encouraging others to follow our lead. In 2016, the UK has announced £90 million of humanitarian assistance for Iraq, with a substantial element supporting partners preparing and responding to Mosul.This assistance includes support for 66,000 people with shelter and support kits, including vital equipment, such as blankets, plastic sheets, buckets and other containers for water, cooking items and soap. It will also support 42,000 people with primary healthcare, covering areas of general clinical and trauma care, child health, management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, and mental as well as environmental health care. The medical teams will consist of 12 General Practitioners, four obstetrics and gynaecology/paediatrician specialists, 20 nurses/midwife/pharmacist assistants, six community health workers and six clerical staff.Since the summer of 2014, the UK has committed £169.5 million of humanitarian assistance to Iraq.

Gaza: Armed Conflict

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to increase psycho-social support for children and young people traumatised by war in Gaza; and if so, what steps they are taking.

Lord Bates: The UK is a long-term supporter of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), providing over £60 million in 2015/16 in Gaza, the West Bank and the region. In Gaza, UNRWA’s Community Mental Health Program provides psychosocial support to Palestinian refugees experiencing psychological trauma, including children and young people, to better cope with the extreme challenges they face on a daily basis. UNRWA has also placed psychosocial counsellors in several schools to support children dealing with a range of psychosocial problems. UNRWA has trained at least 7,800 teachers in Gaza to provide psychosocial support to their students.

Department for Education

Universities: Admissions

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many English state school pupils applying to UK universities for undergraduate study in 2015–16 did not have (1) maths GCSE, (2) English GCSE, and (3) either maths or English GCSE, at C grade or above.

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many English state school pupils accepting offers of an undergraduate place made by UK universities in 2015–16 did not have (1) maths GCSE, (2) English GCSE, and (3) either maths or English GCSE, at C grade or above.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Information on the GCSE grades of Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS) applicants and applicants being accepted to UK universities is not held centrally. The information is held internally by UCAS.

Sex and Relationship Education

Lord Northbourne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposal to change the status of all secondary schools in England to become academies would mean that those schools which are now maintained schools will no longer have an obligation to deliver sex and relationship education.

Lord Northbourne: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce legislation to require all schools, including academies, to provide high quality sex and relationship education as part of their syllabus.

Lord Nash: The Government is clear that all schools should make provision for high-quality sex and relationship education, which is a vital part of preparing young people for life in modern Britain. Academies, like maintained schools, must teach a broad and balanced curriculum and in respect of sex and relationship education, they must - under the terms of their funding agreement - have regard to the Secretary of State’s statutory Sex and Relationship Education guidance published in 2000. The issue of statutory personal, social, health and economic education and sex and relationship education was raised during the Education Select Committee session in September. The Secretary of State agreed that we need to look again at how schools deliver high-quality personal, social, health and economic education including sex and relationship education. The Government is considering all the options and will come to a view in due course.

Pupils: Personal Records

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information schools are required by law to collect regarding their pupils.

Lord Nash: Schools collect a range of information on pupils for their own purposes. Full details of all the data collected by law is accessible via the links in the attached list. Some of this information is required to be submitted to the Department via various collections which are undertaken throughout the school year. The main types of information collected by the Department are:pupil identifiers (name, date of birth, etc)pupil characteristics (gender, ethnicity, language, etc.)pupil attendance and exclusionspupil special educational needspupil attainment and teacher assessmentsThe school census has collected such data at pupil level from the introduction of the Pupil Level Annual School Census in 2002.

Pupils: Sexuality

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 October (HL Deb, col 1889), who has responsibility for (1) securing the answers to, and (2) restricting access to the information deriving from, Brighton and Hove Council’s questionnaires to (a) young teenagers, and (b) the parents of 4 to 6 year-old children, about those children’s self-perception of their sexual orientation.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 October (HL Deb, col 1889), what correspondence there has been between the Department for Education and Brighton and Hove Council pertaining to questionnaires seeking information about children’s self-perception of their sexual orientation; and whether they will place a copy of that correspondence in the Library of the House.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the need for, and benefit to be derived from, the questionnaire issued by Brighton and Hove Council requesting information about children’s self-perception of their sexual orientation.

Lord Nash: These questions refer to an answer given by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 October 2016, and also link to previous questions asked by Lord Macginnis, and answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford in April 2016.As Baroness Williams set out in her previous reply, the Department for Education provides guidance on the Equality Act 2010 to schools which contains advice on the Public Sector Equality Duty and on the protected characteristic of gender reassignment.The Department is not responsible for the decision by Brighton and Hove Council to include gender identity information on the pupil registration form it issued in April 2016. The Council has the independence to make this decision. The Department has had no involvement and has not made any assessment of the questionnaire.The Department does not hold details of any additional information collected by local authorities outside of those required by the Department for our centrally specified, mandatory data collections. Brighton and Hove Council is responsible for securing answers and restricting access to information generated by any questionnaire it issues.The Department has not inquired into the gender identity of children in Brighton and Hove and has no correspondence on the matter.

Pupils: Sexuality

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they have given to local authorities, in particular Brighton and Hove Council, concerning requests for information about children’s self-perception of their sexual orientation.

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to restrict the ability of local authorities to request information about children’s self-perception of their sexual orientation.

Lord Nash: The Department for Education do not require schools or local authorities to collect any information on the sexual orientation of children. Any information collected locally by schools and / or local authorities on sexual orientation for their own purposes is a matter for them to manage locally.The Department for Education has provided schools with guidance on complying with the Equality Act.The Public Sector Equality Duty, at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010, is a duty on public bodies (and others carrying out public functions) to consider, in their day to day work, the needs of people who share particular protected characteristics. This includes schools and children’s services.Under the Duty, public bodies must have due regard to the need to:eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conducted that is prohibited under the Equality Act 2010advance equality of opportunity, and;foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.The Equality Duty covers the protected characteristics listed in the Equality Act, which includes age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.Guidance on complying with the Act and the Equality Duty can be found on GOV.UK (under Equality Act 2010 guidance). Earlier guidance formed under the Coalition Government has been archived on the National Archives website (under the ‘Equality Bill’ guidance). The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also issued guidance on the Public Sector Equality Duty.Local authorities will also have to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 on the data they collect. The Information Commissioner’s Office state that data should only be collected if organisations have legitimate grounds for collecting and using the personal data; that they do not use the data in ways that have unjustified adverse effects on the individuals concerned; that they be transparent about how they intend to use the data, and give individuals appropriate privacy notices when collecting their personal data.

Young People: Education and Training

Lord Smith of Clifton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of data published by the Department for Education on 13 October showing that the proportion of 16- and 17-year olds in England not participating in education and training, as required by the Education and Skills Act 2008, stood at June 2016 at 9.1 per cent, what is the full breakdown of the activities of this group of 16- and 17-year olds; and what steps they are taking to reduce the proportion of those in the age group who are failing to participate.

Lord Nash: The figures published in June 2016 showed estimates of activities of young people as at the end of 2015. These showed that 9.1% of young people at age 16/17 were not in education or work-based learning (apprenticeships) at the end of 2015. The breakdown of the activities recorded for this group are as follows (with corresponding figures from end 2010 for comparison): 20102015Employer Funded Training1.9%2.5%Other Education and Training*0.7%0.6%Not in any education or training - in employment2.8%2.0%Not in any education, employment or training (NEET)6.7%3.9%All not in education or work based learning12.0%9.1% *Wholly privately funded training not picked in the administrative data collections is included under other education and training (OET) which is estimated using the Labour Force Survey The government is determined to do more to encourage young people to participate in education and training and that is why we are investing around £7 billion in 2016-17 to fund education and training places for 16 to 19 year-olds. Under Raising the Participation Age (RPA), all young people are required to continue in education or training until at least their 18th birthday. The Department for Education works closely with local authorities, which have a duty to track and support young people to participate. In addition to this duty, pathfinders to test Jobcentre Plus support for young people in schools have started and will be rolled out across England by March 2017. Improvements to careers education and guidance are also underway with £90m to be invested over this Parliament – including £20m to increase the number of mentors to support those young people who most need it. Youth Engagement Fund and Fair Chance Fund projects are helping to improve the prospects of 9,600 young people, and an additional £105m was announced in the Spending Review to scale up Social Impact Bonds over the Parliament, to help deal with issues including youth unemployment. These initiatives, alongside broader work including: curriculum; qualifications and technical education reform; apprenticeships expansion and reform; traineeships; and the 16-19 Bursary Fund, continue to support young people by ensuring that they are able to gain the skills and qualifications they need for their future employment or continuing education and by removing barriers to participation.

Adult Education

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 19 September (HL1536), when they expect to place the full answer in the Library of House.

Lord Nash: In my original response, I identified 63,500 learners that had achieved an ‘other Full Level 3’ in the 2014 to 2015 funding year, and indicated that a fuller answer would be placed in the House of Lords library in due course. I am now able to provide a further breakdown of these other Full Level 3 achievements. Qualifications have been categorised as:occupational or technical awards where they are qualifications confirmed as technical qualifications for the 16 to 19 performance table or the qualifications focus is on occupational competence.applied academic awards where they are qualifications confirmed as applied qualifications for the 16 to 19 performance table or they are other qualifications that can support progression to further learning. Please note that, following the Skills Funding Letter (December 2015), the Level 3 entitlement offer for 19 to 23 year olds has become more focused on A Level, AS Level, Access to HE Diploma and technical and applied qualifications in the performance tables.  Qualification type2014/15 achievementsApplied academic awards32,400Occupational or technical award31,100Total63,500

Ellie Butler

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the case of Ellie Butler, what guidance they are providing to local authorities about the discharge of their statutory duties on children's safeguarding when a court directs a local authority to cease discharging those responsibilities.

Lord Nash: Where local authorities have concerns about the impact of judicial decisions on the discharge of their statutory duties, it is open to them to seek their own legal advice and act in the way they consider appropriate. The Government keeps its statutory guidance to local authorities under regular review.

Special Educational Needs

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which schools unlawfully or disproportionately exclude pupils with special educational needs; and what steps they are taking to investigate such cases.

Lord Nash: All exclusions must be lawful, reasonable and fair. We do not have data or evidence of schools acting unlawfully in relation to exclusions of pupils with special educational needs (SEN). The Department collects data on the rate of exclusion for pupils with SEN, which is available in the ‘Permanent and fixed-period exclusions in England: 2014 to 2015’ national statistics release on the gov.uk website. We are aware that pupils with SEN are disproportionately likely to be excluded both for a fixed period and permanently. All decisions to exclude can be (and in the case of longer or permanent exclusions, must be) reviewed by the schools’ governing body to ensure that they are lawful, reasonable and fair. For permanent exclusions, parents can also request a review of the decision by an independent review panel. Where a parent requests an independent review, they also have a right to request the presence of an SEN expert to provide impartial advice to the panel on how SEN could be relevant to the exclusion, whether or not the school recognises that a child has SEN. The Department can also investigate if a parent believes an exclusion is unlawful or unfair; any allegation that a school had issued an exclusion unlawfully would be investigated fully. In addition to this, Ofsted’s assessment of behaviour in schools also includes specific consideration of whether any groups of pupils are being excluded disproportionately.

Ellie Butler

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what findings and observations they received from the serious case review about the conduct of the court in placing Ellie Butler with her father; and what action they have taken in response to those findings.

Lord Nash: The serious case review provides a detailed chronology and an independent analysis of the circumstances of this tragic case. Since publication, officials from the Department for Education and the Ministry of Justice have met Sutton local authority to discuss issues arising from the case.

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Lord Warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers they intend should be available to the proposed new Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel to draw to the attention of the judiciary any concerns about the conduct of the courts in any review it conducts.

Lord Nash: It will be the role of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel to carry out and publish reviews into serious child safeguarding cases which raise issues which are complex or of national importance. It is for the Panel itself to determine whether, and if so how, it should draw to the attention of relevant parties any specific recommendations which arise from reviews.

Apprentices: Finance

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the devolved administrations arising from the new apprenticeship funding model.

Lord Nash: The devolved administrations will receive a fair share of the money raised by the levy and it will then be for them to decide how to use it in their own administrations. We are also working with the devolved administrations to ensure that funding for apprenticeships works for employers and learners wherever they are in the UK. The funding policy we announced on 25 October will allow employers in England to use their levy funds to train apprentices from elsewhere in the UK, provided they are working in England. We are aiming to agree reciprocal arrangements with devolved administrations.

Apprentices

Lord Aberdare: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the total number of apprenticeship starts in the latest year for which figures are available were in (1) jobs for new employees, and (2) apprenticeships for existing employees with their current employer.

Lord Nash: The ‘Apprenticeship Evaluation Learner Survey 2015’ report published in October 2016 provides the following key findings on routes into apprenticeships:  New employeesNearly half (48%) of Level 2 and 3 apprentices were recruited with the intention of doing an apprenticeship.Compared to Level 2 and 3 apprentices, higher apprentices were less likely to have been specifically recruited to an apprenticeship (32%).In the 2014 survey a third of apprentices stated they had been recruited specifically as apprentices.  Existing employeesTwo-thirds (67%) of higher apprentices were existing employees, down from 80% reported in 2014, but much higher than Level 2 and 3 apprentices (51%).The vast majority (88%) of Level 5 apprentices were existing employees, compared to a third (34%) of Level 4 apprentices. Source: Apprenticeships Evaluation 2015 - Learners A report by IFF Research, with the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, October 2016 The attached document shows information on the recruitment into apprenticeships (Levels 2 and 3), taken from the source above. Note: The Apprenticeship Evaluation Learner Survey 2015 consisted of quantitative interviews with 5,000 Level 2 and 3 apprentices, as well as 800 higher apprentices, to explore their views of their apprenticeship. This research covered both current apprentices at the time of survey, and recent completers (those that had completed their apprenticeship 12-20 months prior to being interviewed). The department can only use survey information rather than administrative data to answer this question. 



Recruitment into apprenticeships (Levels 2 and 3)
(Word Document, 91 KB)

The Lord Chairman of Committees

Peers: Attendance

Lord Fearn: To ask the Leader of the House how many of the current members of the House of Lords have attended the House on an average of two days per week during full sitting weeks during the last year for which figures are available.

Lord McFall of Alcluith: We do not keep figures in a way that makes it possible to compare attendance in a weekly pattern without incurring disproportionate cost. A usual sitting week is 4 days long. So a member who attends 50% of sittings would attend an average of about two days per week spread over a year. In the year ended 21 October 2016 there were 535 current members who attended more than 50% of sittings and 275 who attended 50% or fewer sittings. These percentages do not take account of members on leave of absence, suspended from participating in the House or disqualified from sitting in the House.

Palace of Westminster: Asbestos

Lord Wigley: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the extent and location of asbestos in the Palace of Westminster.

Lord Laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.It is difficult to estimate the precise amount of asbestos that is present in the Palace of Westminster because asbestos materials of various types have been widely used, over the years, often concealed in ducts and voids, and buried in the fabric of the building. Before the dangers of asbestos were known it was used extensively in building works due to its strength and resistance to heat and fire. Extensive surveying has been undertaken to inform Parliament’s management of asbestos and robust controls are in place which cover checking for the presence of asbestos and the safe execution of works. Asbestos-containing materials have been identified by completion of an Estate wide asbestos management survey and subsequent analyses where applicable.Parliament’s Asbestos Management Plan complies with the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 and follows Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance. Risks associated with asbestos-containing materials are managed in line with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The plan is reviewed annually and has been independently audited.All estates staff undergo Asbestos Awareness training and those responsible for instructing and arranging works on the Estate’s fabric have Asbestos Management training which provides information and advice about the dangers of asbestos, including asbestos-related diseases. Contractors and their staff are also required to undertake this training, or to provide evidence that they have done equivalent training.

Work of the House of Lords

Lord Palmer: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how much the report Work of the House of Lords 2015–16 cost to produce and distribute.

Lord McFall of Alcluith: The production and distribution costs of the 2015/16 edition of the Work of the House of Lords as at 3 November were £10,218.34 for a print run of 20,000 copies.

Ministry of Defence

Astute Class Submarines

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether orders have been placed for boats 6 and 7 of the Astute-class submarines, and, if so, when are the expected launch dates.

Earl Howe: The construction of Astute class submarines boats six and seven is currently underway at the shipyard of the contractor, BAE Systems, at Barrow-in-Furness.Subject to negotiations with the contractor, they are expected to be handed over to the Royal Navy in 2023 and 2024 respectively. The dates for other significant events are yet to be fully determined.

Social Security Benefits: Veterans

Lord Eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review financial support for ex-service personnel resident in Northern Ireland who suffer from disabilities as a consequence of injuries incurred during their service.

Earl Howe: War Pension Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (Guaranteed Income Payment) payments are uprated to protect against rising prices. In line with other public sector schemes, payments through the Armed Forces pensions and compensation schemes have increased with reference to the consumer price index and the Ministry of Defence has no plans to review this policy.

Defence: Procurement

Lord Hutton of Furness: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether measures are in place to protect Ministry of Defence procurement budgets from the fall in the value of sterling against the US dollar and the Euro; and if so, what those measures are.

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement (Harriett Baldwin), in the House of Commons on 17 October 2016 to Question 48369.



 Ministry of Defence Procurement
(Word Document, 15.3 KB)

Department for Work and Pensions

Agriculture: Industrial Health and Safety

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of health and safety in the agricultural sector.

Lord Freud: The number of fatal injuries in the agriculture sector fluctuates each year, and as such it is not possible to draw conclusions from figures for individual years. The annual number of deaths averaged over a five year rolling period is broadly static and remains a cause for concern for the Health and Safety Executive, the Farm Safety Partnerships (FSP) in England, Scotland and Wales, the Agriculture Industry Advisory Committee (AIAC) and the industry itself.The Health and Safety Executive publishes figures on health and safety in the agriculture sector in the attached document “Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace in Great Britain 2016”. Further information can also be found in the published report “Health and safety in agriculture, forestry and fishing in Great Britain, 2015/16”, which is also attached.



Statistics on fatal injuries in the workplace GB
(PDF Document, 486.16 KB)




Statistics on fatal injuries in agriculture etc
(PDF Document, 3.17 MB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Mersey Forest

Lord Fearn: To ask Her Majesty’s Government by how much the Mersey Forest was extended during (1) 2014, (2) 2015 and (3) 2016 to date; and where new woodland was created as part of that forest.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Following a refresh of the Mersey Forest Plan in 2014, a boundary change increased the area of the Mersey Forest by 167 km2 from 1,203 km2 to 1,370 km2, an increase of 13.9%. The Mersey Forest is supported by Cheshire West and Chester Council, Halton Borough Council, Knowsley Council, Liverpool City Council, Sefton Council, St Helens Council and Warrington Borough Council. It has reported woodland creation within its boundaries as 17.10ha in the 2013-14 planting season and 25.86ha in the 2014-15 planting season. No figure has been published for the 2015-16 planting season. The Forest’s web site can be viewed here: www.merseyforest.org.uk/.

Fisheries

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to ensure that, following the UK's departure from the EU, fishing in British waters will be brought under the control of the UK.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK Government is committed to withdrawing from the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and putting a new fisheries regime in place. No decisions have yet been taken, although the Government remains committed to sustainable fisheries and the Discard Ban (Landing Obligation), as set out in its manifesto commitments. The UK is bound by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which gives coastal states rights and responsibilities over their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the resources within it.

Cats: Sales

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to prohibit the sale of kittens under eight-weeks old.

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to regulate the breeding of cats for sale in cases where a single cat produces several litters.

Lord Hoyle: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to restrict the commercial sale of cats to licensed establishments to ensure the welfare of cats for sale.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The current law requires that all licensed sellers of pet animals, whether they are running a traditional high street pet shop or selling online from their home, do not sell pets at too young an age, which for mammals is defined as before they are weaned or should have been weaned. As part of the licensing review, we are looking to clarify this requirement in the regulations and make it a requirement that both puppies and kittens should not be sold if they are under 8 weeks’ of age. While we accept that dog breeding needs to be closely regulated, we do not consider that cat breeding requires licensing. If anyone has any concerns about the welfare of animals at a cat breeding establishment they can report the matter to their local authority or the RSPCA. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal or to fail to provide for its welfare of which the maximum penalty is an unlimited fine and/or six months’ imprisonment. We are currently reviewing the laws on the animal activities licensing schemes, including those that control the commercial sale of pet animals, including cats. Earlier this year, we consulted on a number of proposals including one to apply specific welfare conditions to pet vendors. This will mean that such activities will have to be licensed and meet specific welfare standards in order to obtain a licence but there are no proposals to restrict those licensed vendors from selling cats to other licensed establishments.

Ivory: China

Lord Hague of Richmond: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with representatives from the People’s Republic of China regarding the closing of domestic ivory markets.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK has engaged in a number of discussions with representatives from the People’s Republic of China about trade in ivory and the need to tackle illegal wildlife trade. The UK-China Joint Statement from President Xi Jinping’s State Visit to the UK in October 2015 “recognised the importance and urgency of combating the illegal wildlife trade.” On 21 September Defra Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment and Rural Life Opportunities, Dr Thérèse Coffey, met a delegation from the People’s Republic of China including Dr Liu Dongsheng, Vice Minister of the State Forestry Administration. Discussions included the ivory trade and Dr Coffey welcomed China’s announcement to close its domestic market in ivory.

Clean Air Zones: North of England

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to introduce clean air zones in cities in the north of England which have been identified by Defra as having high pollution levels such as Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Local authorities can already introduce Clean Air Zones should they choose to do so using powers available to them under the Transport Act 2000. The air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide we published in December last year sets out a range of actions being taken by local authorities to reduce pollution. Under the plan we are requiring five cities with the most persistent pollution problems, including Leeds, to introduce Clean Air Zones. The plan is also clear that other local authorities will need to monitor progress and ensure the measures they are taking under local air quality management arrangements are delivering results as soon as possible. We are currently consulting on a framework for Clean Air Zones which will assist local authorities in taking a consistent approach to their adoption. We are also continuing to encourage local authorities, including those in the north of England, to improve air quality. The air quality grant fund announced on 6 October will further support local authorities in England to develop and implement measures to improve local air quality, potentially including exploring the need for Clean Air Zones. For example, Transport for Greater Manchester is currently undertaking a feasibility study into a Clean Air Zone following a successful bid into the previous round of air quality grant funding.

Home Office

Europol

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will clarify the situation on whether the UK needs to opt into the new Europol Regulation, which will apply from 1 May 2017, to be able to continue its full participation in Europol.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is actively considering whether to opt-in to the new Europol Regulation. We will inform Parliament of our decision in due course in the usual way.

HM Treasury

Public Sector Debt

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to reduce the UK’s national debt.

Lord Young of Cookham: The government has already reduced the annual deficit by almost two-thirds from 10.1% of GDP in 2009-10 to 4% of GDP in 2015-16. However, at 84% of GDP last year, Public Sector Net Debt remains too high. The government will set out its plan to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability at Autumn Statement on 23rd November.

Cabinet Office

Overseas Students: EU Nationals

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of EU domiciled students who entered the UK to study in 2015; and how that number is estimated.

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of EU domiciled students who left the UK during 2015; and how that number is estimated.

Baroness Wolf of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what numbers of EU domiciled students were used in calculating net migration statistics in (1) 2014, and (2) 2015; and what was the source of those numbers.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. What happens in terms of the migration system that will be established as we leave the EU is a matter that will be very closely scrutinised and looked at in great detail by the government and within the government.



UKSA Response to HL2607, HL2608, HL2609
(PDF Document, 200.08 KB)

National Flood Resilience Review

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Flood Resilience Review continues to meet following the publication of its report, and what is its current membership.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: The National Flood Resilience Review Group, led by the then Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP was constituted to oversee the development of the National Flood Resilience Review (NFRR). The review was published on 8 September 2016 and is now being implemented. The governance to oversee implementation is under consideration.

Public Appointments

Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure political impartiality in the public appointments process.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen: All public appointments are made on merit and follow a recruitment process regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.The Commissioner collects and publishes data on an annual basis relating to public appointments within his regulatory remit including political activity.

Department of Health

In Vitro Fertilisation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 July 2016 (HL1098), which members of the expert panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) shared private and confidential correspondence with members of the HFEA Executive that had not been submitted to the Authority as part of any formal calls for evidence; and when the expert panel reviewed such information.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 1 June (HC38011 and HC38012), what assessment they have made of the adverse impact on the reputations of (1) the correspondents, and (2) members of the expert panel, of public disclosure of the correspondence; and what are their reasons for not publishing the personal email exchange.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 11 July 2016 (HL1098), whether the correspondence between Professor Grifo and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) expert panel was selectively released to anyone not directly connected with the HFEA; whether other information received by the HFEA has been selectively released to such persons but not otherwise made publicly available; and if so, what assessment they have made of the extent to which conflicts of interest might arise from the selective release of such material.

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has nothing further to add, in respect of the correspondence between Professor Grifo and the expert panel, to that already set out in previous answers.

Doctors: Migrant Workers

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government,further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 26 July (HL1281), of the 1,095 doctors from the EEA who have been unable to demonstrate to the GMC that they have sufficient language skills to practise safely in the UK, how many are currently performing medical work in the UK for which a licence to practice is not required; and what medical work those doctors are performing.

Lord Prior of Brampton: A doctor cannot undertake any meaningful form of mainstream medical work in the United Kingdom if they do not have a licence to practise. It is possible for an unlicensed doctor to work in a healthcare role that the law has not reserved either to licensed doctors or to another regulated profession (for example, as a note taker or in some types of teaching or research). The General Medical Council does not hold any employment information about doctors who are not licensed to practise in the UK.

Mental Hospitals

Lord Ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportions of black and minority ethnic (BME) (1) staff, and (2) patients, there are in mental health hospital psychiatric settings; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which BME patients in such settings are afforded access to equal and fair treatment.

Lord Prior of Brampton: This information is not held centrally. NHS England is working with the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and a range of multi-agency experts, to improve acute mental health care through an evidence-based treatment pathway with accompanying commissioning support tools for, planned for completion within 2016-17. Partners are committed to ensuring the work effectively addresses inequalities for people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities, and a BME reference group comprising individuals with lived experience of using services has been established to provide advice and steer throughout the pathway development process. Following publication of the pathway, implementation will be monitored with particular consideration given to its impact on reducing health inequalities. NHS England has undertaken an independent patient and service level audit of low and medium secure care services in England (2015 data). An analysis of the data shows that Black and Black British men are uniquely over-represented four-fold (six-fold in London) in secure care mental health services, and experience longer stays in restrictive settings. NHS England is embarking on a new Secure Care Pathways transformation programme. The aim will be to prevent avoidable admissions to restrictive care by providing support earlier, closer to home, and to support people in their longer term recovery when they are ready to leave secure services. This programme is prioritising the experiences and needs of Black men with mental illness and risk and safety issues in the community. NHS England will undertake targeted engagement with Black men in secure mental health settings, and will co-design with experts by experience, carers, clinicians and providers a community-based Forensic Outreach and Liaison Service, which is particularly accessible and effective for this currently underserved group.NHS trusts produced and published their first Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) baseline data on 1 July 2015 and the first WRES report NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard – 2015 Data Analysis Report for NHS Trusts, which provides analysis and an overview of data returns by individual trusts, was published in June 2016. A copy of this is attached.



WRES Data Analysis Report
(PDF Document, 1.44 MB)